How to Use a Jigsaw to Cut Curves? (4 Steps)

How to Use a Jigsaw to Cut Curves

Are you looking for a tool that can cut curves efficiently? Choose the grandmaster of cutting curves, a jigsaw that can give you awesome cutting curves in different materials.

During cutting a curve, using the right blade is mandatory. Otherwise, it will be impossible for the jigsaw to give you a gentle curve.

In this article, I am going to tell you the procedure of how to use a jigsaw to cut curves. Using the process, I believe you will be able to get an intricate cut on wood and other materials.

Procedure to Cut Curves Using a Jigsaw

To rip curves, you will find several saws in the market. A scroll sawband sawreciprocating saw, etc., all of them are good for cutting curves. But as I stated earlier, a jigsaw is the grandmaster in terms of cutting curves.

To perform a curve cutting, let’s follow the instruction below:

Selecting the work-piece

Firstly, choose the work-pieces, whether you want to cut a curve or to look to experiment. If you have selected a hard or soft poly board, or wood or metal, there are things to choose from because of the thickness of the hardest of your materials. Some are wooden materials, and some are sturdy objects, so before starting the operation, you need to make sure what materials will meet your needs.

Electing the Blade

I stated earlier, blade type plays a vital role in cutting curves using a jigsaw. You will find 2 types of the jigsaw blade.

  • U-shank jigsaw blade.
  • T-shank jigsaw blade.

Both types of blades are good enough to give you an excellent cutting experience. But if you want to learn my opinion, my vote will go to the T-shank jigsaw blade because to get top-notch performance; this blade type is the best one.

You also need to be careful while choosing the T-shank jigsaw blade because all T-shank blades will not give you a similar performance.

Choose a T-shank blade that is thin and flexible enough. Because during the cutting curve, you will need to turn the blade following the mark. So, if the blade is not flexible enough, turning the blade will be difficult. So, be cautious while choosing the right blade.

Locking the Material

In this step, you need to lock the material on the table. Without locking, you can’t accomplish an efficient performance. Take a few pieces of a clamp to lock the material on the table. So, when the jigsaw is playing on the table, the material shouldn’t be moved. If cuts are needed on the inside, you will need to sharpen the inside of the mark to insert the jigsaw blade through the hole to start smooth cuts. Then take a pencil and mark the path of your design.

Performing the Cutting Curve task

We are at the final stage of this project. Take the jigsaw carefully, and place it on the material. And the blade needs to be inserted through the stuffing hole. Turn the power switch on and start running the machine.

Don’t force the machine to go forward for the operation; give a gentle push using the handle of the jigsaw. Take note in this regard, if you force the tool to cut, your cut may get damaged. So work gently. Now proceed with the cutting along with the marked line.

If the cut is a complex shape that is hard to follow, stay calm, speed up the machine, and slowly move it to cold blood.

If the cut gets damaged, there is no need to be anxious. Keep on trying. In this case, you can freeze the material keeping the machine, and no need to lock the material. Leave the workpiece off the leash. But for beginners, this process is a bit difficult, and they need to be careful following the below safety precautions.

If you are looking for a quick video tutorial, then this is the video tutorial for you. Anna White explained the whole process to you.

How to Make Curved Cuts with a Jigsaw

Safety Precautions While Operating a Jigsaw

  • You should not run a jigsaw if it is wet. A jigsaw is powered by electricity. It means if the machine is wet, then the operator will be at risk of getting an electric shock. So, it is essential to operate the machine when it is in dry condition.
  • Generally, the majority of the jigsaws are designed to run with an RCB circuit breaker. The responsibility of this circuit breaker is will automatically shut down the power source if any power surge occurs. So, make sure not to plug in the jigsaw into a non-RCB circuit breaker. If you do so, you will be at high risk of coming in contact with fire.
  • If you are a novice and operating a jigsaw for the first time, make sure you have read all the instructions of the instruction manual before start running.
  • Always keep in mind to wear the right type of PPE. PPEs like goggles to protect the eyes, a face mask to keep the face safe from dust, and steel-toed boots.
  • Never force the blade when you are working with a hard material. If the blade doesn’t show interest in cutting the material, then try to reverse it and perform to accomplish the cut again.
  • Take an extraction bag when you are operating a jigsaw. The extraction bag will assist you in collecting dust and other debris. Thus, your working environment will remain clean.
  • Inspect the saw blade at regular intervals. If the blade gets cracked or dull, note that it is time to replace or sharpen the blade. If you don’t do this, kickback will increase, and the cutting quality will become weak. Remember, kickback is significantly harmful to a user.

Conclusions

Following the right steps and safety features, a jigsaw will give you the best cutting experience. The steps are simple and straightforward. Make sure to take safety precautions mandatorily.